Roulette table layout

ABSTRACT

The thirty-six numbered, rectangular grid atop the betting surface of a standard casino roulette table, configured in 3 rows of twelve, if juxtaposed into an arrangement having rotated the grid 90 degrees, yields surprisingly advantageous results for both the casino and the players, by simplifying surveillance, enhancing player comfort, speeding up play, and enabling more convenient wagering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to gaming table designs; and particularly to an improved roulette table layout.

Background of the Prior Art

Roulette is a popular game of chance played against a croupier, also known as dealer, using a roulette wheel rotatably held within a structure called a bowl. The roulette wheel carries a plurality of numbered, red and black compartments that are formed on an upward facing surface that borders the periphery of the wheel. The roulette wheel, and bowl in which the wheel is mounted, sits on a table, the upper surface of which is laid out typically to delineate a grid of spaces that are colored either red or black and numbered to correspond with the compartments of the wheel.

Wagers are made, by the players, by placing the stakes upon the marked spaces of the roulette table's grid. Each game is initiated when, after the wagers are placed, the croupier or dealer spins the roulette wheel and sets a ball in motion in the bowl, in an opposite direction from the wheel's spin. Ultimately, the ball will drop into one of the compartments, thus defining the winning wagers by the number associated with the ball-receiving compartment, by whether the number is odd or even, by the color of the compartment, and by like combinations of compartment indicia.

The game of roulette has been played in this manner, using essentially the same equipment as described, for centuries. The game, as described, is not without certain problems, however. Most particularly, casinos are weary of unscrupulous players, who in an effort to tip the odds to their favor, will surreptitiously do strange things to cheat.

One form of cheating is to place a small sponge or other material in one or more compartments of the roulette wheel to obviate the chance that the ball will be received in that altered compartment.

The most common form of cheating, however, at the roulette table involves placing one's stake (or increasing the size of one's initial stake) late, after the outcome of a game is known. This usually involves pushing chips onto the winning number—known in the trade as “column pushing” or placing additional chips on top of existing chips—known in the industry as “top hatting”.

The croupiers are careful to announce that no further wagers can be placed or changed once the wheel begins spinning. However, once it stops, the croupier must identify and differentiate which chips are winners and thus remain on the board for pay off, how much to pay off each player, and which losing chips must be collected or raked off the betting surface. At a busy table it is difficult for the croupiers to keep watch on all of the players during all of that time.

Table inspectors may mingle with the players to observe the play, and in many casinos it is now common practice to have each of the tables monitored by a security camera, the output of which is transmitted to a security room where casino staff look for any irregularities or cheating. But security cameras have their limitations. Although cameras allow security staff to see the layout of each table, they cannot always pan to the exact spot at the exact moment when the irregularity occurs.

Thus, in the past, many inventions have been directed at improving security for the game of roulette. Reinhardt, et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,193 disclose electronic circuitry, including a microprocessor, and light emitting sensors to determine which compartment on the wheel received the ball, calculate the winning wagers, and illuminate the corresponding spaces on the roulette tablet inform players of the results, and detect foreign matter. J. Alden discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,766 discloses a system with means for continuously monitoring activity at the table, detecting the end of each game at the table, detecting any movement occurring in the betting area at or immediately after the end of the game.

Because the game of roulette is most often said to be that game whose odds most favor the house, and due to the heavy surveillance by the house and the oftentimes invasive security gadgetry, roulette is not as comfortable nor as popular as it might be otherwise.

Also, the dimensions of a standard casino roulette table are a factor. The standard roulette table is rectangularly shaped and measures end to end approximately 96″. At one end, which end we shall refer to as the “first short side”, rest the roulette wheel. At the opposite end, which we shall refer to as the “second short side”, there are stationed positions for seating one or more players. That second short side is commonly a width of about 48″. It is noteworthy that players seated at stations on this second short side have difficulty reaching grid spaces, especially to place bets at the opposite end, toward the roulette wheel, which end can be 60″ or more away from those players.

The remaining two sides of the rectangularly roulette table are what we shall refer to as the two “long sides”. Along the 96″ stretch of one of the long sides are stations for several players. Along the opposite long side, or dealer long side, is where the dealer is stationed upwards closer to the roulette wheel. On the lower end of that dealer long side, near the corner formed with the second short side may also be a station for one or more players. The betting surface atop the table is comprised of a rectangular grid of alternating red and black numbered spaces, arranged in 3 columns of 12 numbers each, meaning of course that there are 12 rows, each containing 3 numbers.

In the past, perhaps owing to the concern about player cheating, this layout of the betting grid has always been a rectangle, juxtaposed to extend the grid lengthwise from the second short side of the table all the way to nearly touch the roulette wheel. As mentioned previously, players at the second short side cannot reach the numbered spaces at the opposite end towards the roulette wheel without either getting out of their seat or having the dealer or another player place their chips. In fact, at a crowded table, few if any players at the table can readily reach each number in the grid. The layout is a built-in additional security measure.

A roulette table layout modification that would speed up the game, enhance the comfort level for players, without adversely affecting security, but rather would improve house security, would be a welcomed, and surprising advancement in the art, while satisfying a long felt need in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general advantage of the present invention to provide a roulette table for operation by a dealer wherein the need for the dealer to assist in placing the players' bets is negated.

It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a roulette table layout where surveillance cameras and/or observers need not scan or pan the entire 96″ length of the roulette table.

It is an additional advantage of the present invention that roulette game players can more readily observe one another.

It is also a principle advantage of the present invention that roulette players can feel more comfortable in being able to more readily place their chips at any spot on the betting.

It is an advantage that players will no longer need to lean on glass casing which may surround the roulette wheel.

It is an advantage that the dealer has more time to muck chips and make change, exchange chips, etc. for players.

It is an advantage that more games can be played, more excitement can be created, and more enjoyment for all.

These advantages and objects of the invention, and others which will become more apparent upon reading this specification, may be fulfilled by my novel roulette table layout which consist of simply rotating the betting grid 90 degrees, so that the 3 columns of 12 numbers each will extend from one long side of the table to the other, thus stacking the twelve rows from long side to the opposite long side, rather than stacking the 12 rows from one short side to the second short side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my new and improved roulette table layout.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art roulette table layout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention may be best illustrated by FIG. 1 of the simple, but immensely useful and beneficial (to both the players and the house) casino roulette table layout 10 of my invention. This is in contrast to FIG. 2 with the prior art layout of table 10.

At FIG. 1, the dealer 1 is stationed proximate to the first short side 15 of the rectangular casino roulette table 10. A roulette wheel 20 is disposed atop the betting surface 25 of table 10, at proximately the first short side 15 of said table 10. Opposite of first short side 15 is second short side 12 of said rectangular roulette table 10. Connecting the two short sides 15 and 12, so as to define the rectangular shape are a long side 31 and a long side 30 opposite of 31. The betting surface 22 is layed out on table top 25 in the proximate center of table top 25, and is substantially defined by and consist essentially of a thirty-six numbered grid. There are also ancillary wagering spots 50 for betting on odd numbers, even numbers, or various groupings of numbers. The grid 22 is juxtaposed to have its three columns of twelve numbers each to extend from their top at long side 31 to their bottom at long side 30. One or more players (not shown) may be stationed at seats such as 100 at second short end 12, and/or at stations 200 at long side 30. Such players can more readily reach and place their bets on each of the thirty-six numbers on grid 22, than their counterparts at prior art FIG. 2.

At FIG. 2 players at station 100 cannot reach the numbers in the first row of three numbers on grid 22.

Also, for surveillance purposes, security cameras and observers have a more limited area of betting surface to surveil.

The above-described embodiments are an example of the implementation of the invention. Accordingly, various substitutions and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. An improved roulette table layout comprising: a. A four-sided rectangular shaped table top having a first short side, a second short side, and two long sides connecting the short sides so as to define the four-sided rectangular shaped table top; i. said first short side having located proximately therein a roulette wheel and a station for a dealer; ii. the second short side being located opposite of said first short side and designated for player stations; iii. the two long sides being located opposite one another, at least one of which being designated for player stations; and b. A betting surface being a layout in the proximate center of the table top between the roulette wheel and the second short side, said layout being substantially defined by a thirty-six numbered betting grid arranged in three columns of twelve numbers each, and said grid thus having twelve rows of three numbers each, and said columns having a top and a bottom; the improvement consisting essentially of rotating the betting grid 90 degrees and therefore having each of the columns of the grid juxtaposed to extend from their top at one long side of the table top to their bottom at the opposite long side of the table top; whereby, players at either long side player station, and at the second short side player station are able to more readily place their own bets, with each number on the grid being within arm's reach, negating the need for dealer assistance. 